About Araecerus fasciculatus (C.DeGeer, 1775)
Araecerus fasciculatus can reach a body length of about 3 to 5 millimeters. These small weevils have a dome shape, are dark brown, and mottled with light and dark brown pubescence. They are robust and good fliers. Their antennae are slender; the three terminal segments of the antennae are longer and form a club at the tip. Araecerus fasciculatus is classified as a tropical and subtropical species, and it is known to have a cosmopolitan distribution. This species is a worldwide pest of major stored commodities, but various scientific publications have documented it feeding on living plants in their natural habitats, including coffee fruit and citrus fruit. Larvae dig tunnels into seeds and pupate inside them, and adults emerge by boring an exit hole. Adult males reach sexual maturity 3 days after emerging, while adult females reach sexual maturity after 6 days. The egg incubation period lasts 3 to 15 days, averaging around 6.1 days. The pupal stage takes an average of around 7.1 days to complete. When held at 28 °C (82 °F) in stored coffee beans, a female can lay up to around 50 eggs, and has an average lifespan of 46 to 66 days. The average time required for full development from egg to adult varies depending on the relative humidity and temperature during development.
